It’s the middle of the night when we arrive back home to Oasis Springs. My mother Lea, who has been house-sitting for us, greets us outside. I give her a hug and re-introduce her to Peri, who’s grown a lot since she last saw her…
Alida: *To Peri* This is your grandmother Lea.
Q and Peri head inside. I remain with mama for a bit longer…feeling bad that I didn’t call her the whole time we were in Sulani. The truth is – she was out of my life for so long growing up…that it’s easy to forget that she even exists.
I hand her a gift…
Alida: It’s a souvenir…from Sulani.
Lea: Thanks!
I invite her back inside and we both grab a quick bite to eat…some left-over pizza.
Alida: *sits down* Michelle told me that you found a job.
Lea: I did…and it’s going well. She told me that you got married.
It seems that Michelle got to know mama a bit when she stopped by to work on decorating our house. From time to time when we spoke while I was in Sulani…she’d give me an update on how mama was doing. Michelle has a gift for being the glue that keeps people together.
Alida: Yeah…at the last minute. We wanted to marry in Sulani before we left.
Alida: Did you find an apartment yet?
Lea: A temporary one. I’ll just be staying with a co-worker for a bit.
Alida: You don’t have to rush off. We can set up an air mattress for you until tomorrow.
Lea: Thanks…I’d appreciate that.
The only space we can find big enough for an air mattress is the bit of hallway in front of Peri’s bedroom. Mama seems content with it though. She goes down and prepares for bed.
A few hours later, Peri is awakened by a strange noise…
Prosperity: Hello? Is anyone there?
She cautiously steps out of bed. That’s when she sees the tentacles of a mysterious creature reaching out towards her.
Prosperity: Help! A monster!
Peri steps out of her room and sees the lady that her mother told her was her grandmother Lea. Maybe she can help…
Prosperity:*calls out* Excuse me! Can you help me?
Grandma Lea slowly wakes up.
Lea: Peri…is everything okay?
Prosperity: No! There’s a monster in my room! It eats little kids, but you’re old…it doesn’t like to eat old people.
Lea: There’s no such thing as monsters that eat little kids.
Peri doesn’t like not being believed…
Prosperity: Nevermind…I’ll just go get daddy.
Peri manages to get halfway up the stairs before Lea calls her back down…
Lea: Wait…I think I can help.
Prosperity: Can you? Because this isn’t a joke. It’s serious and if you don’t help…I’ll be dead by morning.
Lea tries hard to keep a straight face.
Lea: I’m just not sure what I can do.
Prosperity: *begs* Please! You have to think of something.
Lea thinks about it for a minute or two. Suddenly she recalls something she saw in a movie once.
Lea: Okay…I think I have an idea.
Prosperity: Good! Let’s go… *leads Lea to her bedroom*
In the bedroom, Lea doesn’t see a thing…but Peri obviously does.
Prosperity: So…what are you going to do?
Lea:*pulls out a spray bottle* You ever heard of bug repellant? Well…this is monster repellant. A few sprays of this and your monster problem will be gone.
Prosperity: *doubtful* How can you be sure?
Lea: Did you know that your grandmother spent over 20 years in prison? …a high-security prison with some of the toughest ladies on the planet.
Prosperity: Grandma Alice?
Lea: No! Me!
Prosperity: Why were you in prison?
Lea: For killing a monster of course. Most of us ladies were.
Prosperity: But isn’t that a good thing? Aren’t monsters bad?
Lea: Yes they are…only this one didn’t look like a monster – so no one believed he was bad. But don’t worry…yours is obviously a monster. Let’s do it! *begins spraying furiously* Die monster! Die!
Peri watches with wide eyes as her grandma Lea goes a bit crazy on the monster.
Several moments later…
Lea:*out of breath* I think I got it.
Prosperity: I think so too.
Lea: You can go to bed now and I’ll make sure to get you a night light to protect you from now on…okay?
Prosperity: Okay. *crawls into bed*
Lea walks over and tucks Peri in, feeling accomplished, but also a bit sad…because killing monsters was something she never got to do with her own daughter during her childhood years.
(Generation 1a Chapter Summaries)
